Respect Life Opts For Calm Approach

October 16, 1987|By CAROL BRZOZOWSKI, Staff Writer

Fifteen years ago this month, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops established an organization for the purpose of ``focusing attention on the breakdown of the moral, civil and social structure in America.``

Yet today, a mention of the name of that organization -- Respect Life -- brings to mind one issue: abortion. And many people mistakenly associate Respect Life with the Right to Life organizations.

``We don`t picket,`` said Ginny Scott, director of the Respect Life office of the Diocese of Palm Beach. ``We`re not Right to Life.``

After clarifying that matter, Scott addresses the matter of being a single- issue organization.

``We are a single-issue people and the single issue is life,`` Scott said, paraphrasing a quotation by Cardinal John O`Conner of New York from his recent address to the National Respect Life conference.

It was just one year after the formation of the Respect Life office that the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion through its ruling in the 1973 Roe vs. Wade case.

Issues such as euthanasia and assisted suicide are now part of the Respect Life agenda, although on the local level they have not taken the same priority as abortion. In euthanasia issues, the Catholic is not obliged to accept extraordinary means to stay alive. The office concerns itself with cases in which the decision to die is made before that point.

Scott is a non-Catholic who does not want to make her religious background public, but says she is well-suited for her job ``because I`ve been pro-life all my life. I`ve always believed in the sanctity of life.``

Ask her to define her positions theologically and she says: ``This is my philosophy in life: There is a right and wrong as far as I`m concerned. Wrong is destroying a pre-born child. We talk about dignity and the person`s right to choose. We are human and we can give birth to new life and we have a responsibility; there is a life in that woman`s body. In my opinion, she does not have the right to choose. That life is God-given.``

For her opinions, Scott has mildly suffered, getting a nasty phone call here and there.

``They think I`m some crazy or some off-the-wall person,`` Scott said. ``People who see me out in public and know who I am are rude and give me the cold shoulder.``

But for the number of abortions being performed these days, Scott has her own harsh words for society: ``People are out for themselves. This is a self- centered, egotistical society.``

And it`s a society that will not support the family, she adds.

``Men should be given paternity leave as well as (maternity leave for) women,`` she said. ``I think that would help a lot.``

Scott said she gets ``unbelievable`` support from the clergy and Bishop Thomas Daily, a traditional bishop who is a vocal supporter of pro-life issues.

Scott is asked if all Catholics believed that abortion was murder, why aren`t more speaking out against it?

``That`s a good question,`` she said. ``I don`t see how anyone could be Catholic and not do anything about it. The basic theme of the church is life and I don`t know how you can say you`re Catholic and not do anything to support it.``

For now, Scott is doing all she can to show her support for the goals of the Respect Life office.

The office has three functions: pastoral, educational and public policy.

The pastoral function offers ``tangible care to the woman who is pregnant or who has pregnancy-related issues.``

This includes a 24-hour hot line for women concerned about pregnancy issues, pregnancy testing and counseling about carrying through with the pregnancy, and the operation of Maurawood, a residence for unwed mothers.

``We`re real supportive of the girls because they choose life,`` Scott said.

Yet that support extends only so far. For those whose pregnancies will sap a meager income, the office can offer only minor assistance.

``Most people who come to us do qualify for some public aid,`` Scott said. ``Sometimes we can link them up with a doctor who would be willing to allow a woman to make payments later. We hope in the future we can develop a fund for those people who fall between the cracks and assist them in some way. There is a gap in services that needs to be addressed.``

Maurawood typically houses unwed mothers between ages 12 to 21, offering career counseling and cultural activities as well as shelter. Last year, the residence housed 56 teens and young women and has assisted nearly 1,300 in its 20 years of existence.

These days, pregnant girls and women are opting to keep their babies, reversing a trend of giving them up for adoption, Scott said.

Most families who initially reject a single teen or young woman after she`s become pregnant will eventually come around to provide support after the baby is born, Scott said.

The Respect Life office will conduct follow-up visits with Maurawood residents to ``see how they`re taking care of the child and if they need anything,`` Scott said.

The educational function of the office focuses on the parishes in the dioceses, where pro-life programs are presented in hopes of garnering support among the area`s Roman Catholics.

Films are shown on issues such as suicide and euthanasia, Scott said. She added that the office also promotes the anti-abortion film The Silent Scream.

One of the latest additions to the educational function of the office is Project Rachel, a national program designed to offer counseling on a non- denominational basis for women who have had abortions and are experiencing remorse over their decision.

Two weeks into the newly initiated program, three women have called for counseling, Scott said.

``I really think this program is going to have an impact,`` Scott said.

Also, the office intends to introduce into Catholic schools a program called ``Sex Respect`` for teens, ``an alternative to school-based sex education programs,`` Scott said.